Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has labelled her suspension from the Red Chambers as “an injustice that will not be upheld.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator was suspended for six months on Thursday after the Senate’s disciplinary committee found her guilty of violating its rules in connection with her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
However, a furious Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan strongly rejected the suspension.
“This injustice will not stand,” the Kogi Central Senator stated, pledging to continue her “pursuit for justice.”
Her suspension followed a recommendation by the Senate’s disciplinary committee, which presented its report during the plenary session on Thursday. The committee had investigated allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of office against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
According to the committee, the 45-year-old lawyer had violated the Senate’s rules and was thus to be suspended for six months.
Despite calls from some lawmakers to reduce Natasha’s suspension, a large majority of the Senate voted to uphold the decision.
Senator Akpabio, who was presiding over the session, read the resolutions of the lawmakers, which stated that the Senate would “consider lifting this suspension or reducing its duration” if Natasha later submits a “written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate.”
The committee’s recommendations also included suspending her salary and that of her aides for the period of the suspension. However, this was overturned following an appeal from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
“The aides of Natasha are not Natasha,” Senator Kalu said, urging an amendment to the sanctions. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive these aides of their allowances.”
Natasha’s troubles began on 20th February 2025, when she had a dispute with Senator Akpabio after her seat was changed. The Kogi Central representative objected to the move, sparking a heated exchange on the floor of the Senate.
However, the row escalated into allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, the former governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State—an accusation he has denied.
She submitted a petition to the Senate on Thursday, but it was dismissed before her suspension was imposed the following day.
